Publication
Title
Sounds of male Lake Victoria cichlids vary within and between species and affect female mate preferences
Author
Abstract
Sound production in fish is widespread and occurs in several contexts, such as species recognition, mate choice, and aggression. However, there is little experimental evidence for the importance of acoustic signals in social contexts and the influence of sound on mating decisions of females. Cichlid fish are known for their bright nuptial coloration, which plays an important role in mate choice and reproductive isolation between the many species of cichlid fish in East Africa. They also produce sounds in both aggressive and courtship interactions. In this study, we show that the sounds produced by males of Lake Victoria cichlids are species specific. There is also a correlation between fish size and peak frequency of sounds across species. We did not find context-dependent differences within a species (Pundamilia nyererei) between male sounds produced during aggressive displays toward males or sexual displays toward females. We also show with playback experiments that courtship sounds influence the mate preferences of female cichlids. In combination with many studies in the literature on visual signaling, our results suggest that multimodal communication plays an important role in sexual selection in cichlids.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Behavioral ecology / International Society for Behavioral Ecology. - New York, NY
Publication
New York, NY : 2010
ISSN
1045-2249
DOI
10.1093/BEHECO/ARQ018
Volume/pages
21 :3 (2010) , p. 548-555
ISI
000277452800017
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 17.03.2010
Last edited 25.05.2022
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